our mission
Building long-term, life-changing relationships with urban youth.
our history
1982
Dr. Kent Hutcheson, Founder
Dr. Kent Hutcheson founded Colorado UpLift in 1982 as a summer jobs program for urban, underserved youth. Dr. Hutcheson’s passion was to help urban young people find hope in hopeless circumstances.
1987
Colorado UpLift
Colorado UpLift quickly changed its strategy in 1987 to teach character qualities and life skills needed for long-term success. UpLift staff members began providing leadership and character instruction in the public school system for students from 4th grade through college. Along with the In-School Program, Colorado UpLift regularly mentored students after school and throughout the summer, improving the odds for urban youth to emerge as successful, productive young adults.
1994
Guild
The Colorado UpLift Guild was launched in 1994 and has been instrumental in providing a myriad of services including purchasing vans, creating a homework club, and running arts & crafts for youth. They have also provided Christmas bonuses for staff, the Holiday Store, an annual fashion show, theme parties, and other activities.
2000
Advanced Leadership
Advanced Leadership provides UpLift high school students with a unique opportunity to develop and cultivate leadership skills. In 2002, Advanced Leadership students learned to give back by joining board members, UpLift staff, and others in building homes for needy families in Tijuana, Mexico.
2007
Adventure
In 2007, UpLift launched its Adventure program. The program introduced urban youth to skiing & snowboarding, rafting, backpacking, camping, and other outdoor activities.
2008
Post-Secondary
Having roots in the earlier Independent Living, Life Options, and College Lift programs, the Post-Secondary Program continues with UpLift graduates into college and career development. UpLift awards over $80,000 each year to students through donor-provided scholarships.
2014
Elevate USA Formed
After seeing the success of the UpLift model, Colorado UpLift launched the Model Replication Program, aimed at helping new cities launch. In 2014, Elevate USA was formed by Colorado UpLift advocates, allowing Colorado UpLift to focus on the city of Denver and release Elevate USA to replicate the Colorado UpLift program in cities throughout the US.
our history
1982
Dr. Kent Hutcheson, Founder
Dr. Kent Hutcheson founded Colorado UpLift in 1982 as a summer jobs program for urban, at-risk youth. Dr. Hutcheson’s passion was to help urban young people find hope in hopeless circumstances.
1987
Colorado UpLift
Colorado UpLift quickly changed its strategy in 1987 to teach character qualities and life skills needed for long-term success. UpLift staff members began providing leadership and character instruction in the Public School system for students from 4th grade through college. Along with the in-school program, Colorado UpLift regularly mentored students after school and throughout the summer, improving the odds for urban youth to emerge as successful, productive young adults.
1994
Guild
The Colorado UpLift Guild was launched in 1994 and has been instrumental in providing a myriad of services including the purchase of vans, homework club and arts & crafts for youth. They have also provided Christmas bonuses for staff, the Holiday Store, organized an annual fashion show, theme parties, and other activities.
2000
Advanced Leadership
Advanced Leadership provides UpLift high school students with a unique opportunity that develops and cultivates young leaders. In 2002, Advanced Leadership students learned to give back by joining board member, UpLift staff and other in building homes for needy families in Tijuana, Mexico.
2007
Adventure
In 2007 UpLift launched its Adventure program. The program introduced urban youth to snow skiing & boarding, rafting, backpacking, camping & other outdoor activities.
2008
Post-Secondary
Having roots in the earlier Independent Living, Life Options and College Lift programs, the Post-Secondary Program continues with UpLift graduates into college and career development. UpLift awards over $80,000 each year to students through donor provided scholarships.
2014
Elevate USA Formed
After seeing the success of the UpLift model, Colorado UpLift launched the Model Replication Program, aimed at helping new cities launch. In 2014, Elevate USA was formed by Colorado UpLift advocates, allowing Colorado UpLift to focus on the city of Denver and release Elevate USA to replicate the Colorado UpLift program in cities throughout the US.
help us reach more students
- We believe that EVERY CHILD is of great worth and has the desire and potential to succeed.
- We believe that LONG-TERM, 24/7 RELATIONSHIPS with caring adults have proven positive outcomes in the lives of our urban youth.
- We believe that a HOLISTIC approach is essential for a strong and healthy future for our youth.
- We believe that FULL-TIME, SALARIED TEACHER-MENTORS WHO COME FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS as the students can have a positive influence and make all the difference.
- We believe that the SERVANT LEADERSHIP, creating a culture of selflessness and service, is the foundation of great leadership.
- We believe in the intrinsic DIGNITY of every person and act accordingly.
- We believe that COLLABORATION yields the best long-term results, acknowledging that the complex work in our urban centers cannot be done single-handedly.
Dr. Joseph Sanders
Chief Executive Officer
Brian Stamer
Chief Operating Officer
Nicole Peters
Development Director
Jackie Jackson
Human Resources Director
Dana Naudain
Specialist, Data & Research
Liliana Castillo
Executive Assistant, Operations
Lindsay Easter
Communications Coordinator
program staff
Abraham Urbina
Manager, Adventure
Adrian Lucero
Program Director
David Ubaldo
Site Operations Manager – South
Inez Robinson
Director, Community Partnership Engagement
Lemule Pulley
Site Operations Manager – Aurora
Mateo Salinas
Site Operations Manager – West
Mike Riley
Senior Ambassador & Director of Alumni Engagement
Ross Curington
Manager, Advanced Leadership
Sirena Rodriguez
Manager, Post Secondary
Tanya Martinez
Site Operations Manager – North
Victor Nellum
Director, Parent & Family Engagement | Site Operations Manager – Southeast
Teacher/Mentors
Adrian Dalstra
Adriana Romero
Benjamin Ibarra
Benjamin Klinge
Bernadette Torrez
Cameron Thompson
Dominique Bargaineer
Eric Swank
Frank Trujillo
Jacob Valdez
Jazzy Rodriguez
Jeri Romero
Joi Dandridge
Josh Mendoza
Lily Urbina
Marc Saenz
Maria Carr
Mario Rubio
Robert Sanchez
Sarahi Tafoya
Vanessa Maddux
Yessica Herrera Barraza
Ivan Anaya
Principal
Astucia Development
Gary Anderson
COO
Prologis
John Andrews
Chairman
Backbone America
Robert Barbee
President and GM (Retired)
Barbee’s Freeway Ford
Stephen Barnett
Partner
Arrow Partnership
Dave Beaver
Founder and Executive Consultant
Beaver & Associates Consulting
Brian Becker
Director and Private Banker
Citi Private Bank
Stephen Bell
Partner
Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
Randall Bellows
Co-Founder (Retired)
Cobe Laboratories
Kelly Bennett
Co-Founder
Ponderosa Advisors, LLC
Bruce Benson
President
University of Colorado
Jerry Berglund
General Partner
Enoch Holdings, LLC
Marty Berglund
Community Volunteer
Horst Bergmann
President (Retired)
Jeppesen
Horst Bergmann
President (Retired)
Jeppesen
Mac Blount
Sales Manager
Power Motive Corporation
Ellen Boade
Vice President
CBIZ Talent and Compensation Solutions | EFL Associates
Bob Boswell
Chairman and CEO
Laramie Energy, LLC
Chase Boswell
Managing Partner
Thunder River Production
Beth Bowlen-Wallace
The Denver Broncos
Mark Brown
Managing Partner
Brown and Co
Rod Buscher
President
Blinker, Inc.
James Cleary
President
Bridge Financial Group
Wanda Colburn
Managing Director
CIBC Private Wealth Management
Alex Cranberg
Chairman of the Board
Aspect Energy
Justin Culver
Entrepreneur
Del de Windt
CEO
Cardinal Group Companies
Dave Fisher
Market President
FirstBank
Kaye Lynn Fote
Norm Franke
President
Alpine Bank
Sam Freedman
Chairman (Retired)
Oppenheimer Funds
Charles Gallagher
Chairman and CEO
Gallagher Enterprises, LLC
Leslie Gamel-Curley
Architect and Principal
Eco-ARCH, LLC
John Gart
Partner
The Gart Companies
Taylor Gitcho
Senior Client Advisor
Crestone Capital, LLC
Jeff Gott
Senior Financial Advisor
Integrity Wealth Advisors
Neal Groff
Founding Principal and Owner
Groff Team Advisors
Mark Grosvenor
Lauren Hammer
Partner, Financial Services
KMPG, LLC
Ken Harrison
CEO, WaterStone Foundation
Chairman and CEO, Promise Keepers
Mike Haselden
VP and COO
Haselden Construction
Clifford Hickey
Managing Director
Anschutz Investment Company
J. Dave Hunter
Chairman
Financial Designs Ltd.
Margie Hunter
Community Volunteer
President, UpLift Guild
Stephen James
Managing Partner
Boulder Telcom Partners
Bruce Johnson
President
GHX
Katherine Kellen
Senior Vice President
Wells Fargo
David Keller, CLU, ChFC
Financial Advisor
Wealth Strategies Group, LLC
Eunice Kim
Regional President
BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Kurt Kittleson
Semi-retired
Eric Koeplin
Partner Advisor & Chairman of the Investment Committee
AdvicePeriod
William Lazzeri
Partner (Retired)
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Michael Leede
Manager and Principal
Leede Operating Company, LLC
Richard Lewis
Chairman
TPH Partners II, L.P.
James Lightner
Founder/Partner
Beacon E&P
Trish MacDonald
Senior Account Executive
OneNeck
Larry McKinley
Sr. VP and Financial Consultant
RBC Wealth Management
Shawn McLaughlin
CEO
Emporia Energy
Ted Millice
President
Millice Group, Ltd.
Claire Mindock
Marketing Executive
Melaleuca
Charles Mueller
CEO
Progress Residential
Paul Murray
Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor
Bank of America Private Bank
Sean Myers
CEO
Pure Potential International
Victoria O’Connor
CEO
The O’Connor Group
John O’Dorisio Jr.
Attorney at Law
Robinson, Waters & O’Dorisio, PC
Erik Olson
CEO
ServPro
William Pauls
Chairman of the Board
The Pauls Corporation
Jim Peros
VP Employee Benefits and Community Engagement
AssuredPartners Colorado
Richard Plumridge
President
Richard R. Plumridge, PC
John “Pierre” Powell, Col (Ret)
President
PAMCO Investments Corporation
Benjamin Rainey
Partner
Wealthpoint
Wendy Ralston
Audit Partner
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Chris Rebich
President
The O’Connor Group
Richard L. Robinson
Manager
Robinson Management, LLC
Amy Roe
Vice President Relationship Manager
Vectra Wealth Management
Duke Saeman
Founder & President
Seminole Investments, LLC
Richard Saunders
Founder & Chairman
Saunders Construction
Caroline Schuster
Chief Administrative Officer
Congruex
Gwenivere Snyder
Colorado Landmark Realtors Luxury Portfolio
Bill Sullivan
Colorado Market CEO
BOK Financial
Neville Teagarden
CEO
Al Capital
Rod Thacker
Managing Partner
Denver Retirement Partners, LLC
Antoine Toffa
Chairman
VideoBloom, Inc.
James Travis
President
Eaton Metal Products Co.
Jeffrey Vaughan
President/CEO
Tracker Resource Development III, LLC
Michael Ward
Owner/Operator
Mike Ward Automotive Infiniti/Maserati/Alfa Romeo/McLaren/Lamborghini/Aston Martin
Celso White
Former Global Chief Supply Chain Officer
Molson Coors Brewing Board Member CF Industries, Inc.
Kevin Allen
Scott Beck
Porter Bennett
Jeffrey Bennis
William Bergner
Robert Bonnette
J. Charles Farmer
John Fox
Henry Gordon
William Graebel
Ferris Hamilton
Hugh Harvey
John Ikard
Vernon Isaacs
Brandon Johnson
Donald Kany
Randall Kenworthy
David Kornder
Eric Kramer
Donald Law
Robert Malone
John Manta
Michael Margolis
Matthew Meagher
Brent Morse
Peter Mounsey
Ralph Nagel